United States of America -- West Virginia -- Randolph County -- Elkins
General:
Halliehurst was situated on a the 450-acre estate in Elkins, West Virginia. The mansion was the summer home of the lawyer, industrialist, and politician, Senator Stephen Benson Elkins and his wife Hallie Davis Elkins. The mansion was named for Mrs. Elkins, who had the distinction of being a daughter, wife, and mother to members of the US Senate. The 16,000 square-foot mansion was designed by the notable New York architect, Charles T. Mott after a Rhineland castle admired by Mrs. Elkins. The site for the mansion was chosen for its proximity to the upcoming terminal of one of Elkins railroads. Construction began on the baronial mansion in 1890 using locally sourced hardwoods and stone. While the turreted structure, with towers, columns, dormers, chimneys, and a steep hipped roof defies any direct architectural style, its closest relation is the Shingle style. The grounds around the mansion were extensively planted for the Elkins family, and the estate also functioned as a farm.
Soon after its construction, Senator Henry Gassaway Davis, the father of Mrs. Elkins and business partner of Senator Elkins, constructed his summer home, Graceland, on the estate next door. This pair of mansions is representative of the wealth and influence of two Gilded-Age businessmen-politicians, and as a result of their enterprises the town of Elkins grew up around them. The mansion and 60 acres of the land were deeded to Davis and Elkins College in 1923, by Senator Elkins widow, and it has served as dormitory, classroom space, home of the college president, and today houses the offices of the President, Admission, and Development. Halliehurst was listed individually on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1982, at which point the mansion was completely restored. In 1996, Halliehurst was incorporated into the Davis & Elkins National Historic Landmark District, a discontinuous district comprised of four separate historic buildings on the campus of Davis and Elkins College.
Persons associated include: Senator Stephen Benton Elkins (former owner), Baldwin and Pennington (architects), and Davis & Elkins College (owner).
National Register of Historic Places, Davis & Elkins National Historic Landmark District, Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia, National Register #70000666 and #96001129.
See also Elkins -- Graceland Mansion (AAG# WV009). Graceland Masion is also pictured in postcard WV022_MAR003.
Postcards circa 1915-1945.
Varying Form:
Also known as Hallihurst and Senator Stephen Benton Elkins' House.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
The project to catalog postcards in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
On January 16th, 1937, one hundred and forty-seven members of The Garden Club of America (GCA) arrived at the United States-Mexico border for a nineteen day tour of various sites in Mexico. The trip was largely organized by Mrs. Walter Douglas, but there were many who contributed to the trip's itinerary. Included in the list of hosts were the wife of the Minister of Foreign Relations, members of the Garden Club of Mexico, Professor P. Khankhoje from the Plant Bureau of Mexico, and politicians such as the governor of the Federal District, Cosme Hinjosa.
The extensive trip through Mexico covered a vast amount of territory, landscapes, and destinations. The group visited the towns and cities of Guaymas, Mazatlan, Guadalajara, Uruapan, Patzcuaro, Mexico City, Toluca, Puebla, Xochimilco, and Queretaro. As evidenced by images from the trip, each city offered an assortment of attractions including natural landscapes, vibrant cultural encounters, murals, historical landmarks, and for some, even witnessing a bullfight. The group also visited gardens including The Botanical Garden in Uruapan; Chapultepec Castle; Casa Alvarado; the Churubusco Monastery; the Carmelite Church, and the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco. The trip ended for southwestern GCA members in Laredo, Texas; for others, it ended in St. Louis where that chapter's garden club welcomed its fellow members for an evening of conversation and refreshments.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
